Eye exercising device



Dec. 10, 1940. BERMANN 2,224,776

EYE EXERCISING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1940 Patented Dec. 10, 1940 "UNITED; STATES OFFICE s 2,224,776 I EYE axnncrsme DEVI-CE. h Hugo Bermann, Jersey City, N. J. Application July 2, 1940, Serial No. 343,643

2 Claims. (01. 128;765)

r This invention relates to improvements in eye exercising devices and more particularly to a'de vice to be used for eye calisthenics to develop and strengthen the muscles of the eyes.

It is generally known that weak eye muscles cause headaches and impair the nerve condition of the body. In order to correct the above defects and to correct any deficiencies in the development of the muscles of the eyes, it frequently becomes necessary to use or manipulate the eyes in a way to exercise these muscles or to practice special exercises to effect proper development of particular muscles.

Heretofore, the exercise generally prescribed by most eye doctors for exercising the muscles of the eyes at home is the well known pencil exercise. This exercise, however, requires a considerable amount of patience andtends to tire the arms of the patient, whereas the device of the present invention is relatively simple to use and is highly effective in producing the desired results.

Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an eflicient device for strengthening the eye muscles whereby to maintain them in condition to perform their proper functions and thus avoid defects in vision due to one or more of the muscles failing to properly coact with the other muscles. I

A further object of the present invention is to provide an eye exerciser, the proper use of which will improve phorias, correct headaches and improve the general nerve condition of the body.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel mechanical device, which is simple in construction, light, inexpensive to manufacture, capable of use with slight instruction, and adapted for effecting the exercises of the eye muscles in accordance with the main object of the present invention.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the device of my invention in use and as being actuated to move the fixation object toward and away from the eyes.

Figure 2 is a front elevation illustrating the device of my invention in use and as being actuated to move the fixation object to the right or left of the eyes.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In carrying out my invention, I'construct the main portion of the device of wire to enable same to be inexpensively manufactured although any 5 other suitable material may be used. Referring to the drawing in detail, my device comprises a main body portion 4, wire frame generally indicated bythe numeral 5, handles 6, l, chin rests 8, 9, and a movable fixation object of spherical form Ill.

The frame 5 comprises a rectangularly shaped base member H formed of a single strand of wire and terminating in 2. ohm rest 8. The width of the base portion is slightly less than the diameter of the spherical object II) for a purpose that will be apparent as the description progresses. The upper portion of the frame comprises a rectangularly shaped member I2 having downwardly turned portions forming vertical spacing legs l3, Hi, the lower ends of which are welded or otherwise joined to base member I I. The height of the legs are slightly less than the diameter of the spherical object l0. A horizontal bar [5 joins the upper portions of legs l3 and M to prevent separation of these legs. At the end adjacent the chin rest 8, vertical bars l6 and I! are connected to members II and I2. The construction described above results in a wire frame of such size and proportion as to confine the spherical fixation object within the space defined by the wire frame and at the same time permitting free movement of the spherical object from one end of the frame to the other by a mere tilting of the frame. The legs l3'and l4 and bars l6 and [1 function as end stops for the spherical object. The handles 6 and 1 are provided for manipulation of the device and are welded or otherwise joined to the lower member II in such manner as not to interfere with the free movement of the spherical object, A second chin rest 9 is joined to one side of the base member II at right angles thereto for a purpose to be more fully explained in the operation of the device. Although the chin rests are shown as being fixed to the frame member, it is to be understood that the same may be made adjustable in length to vary the distance between the frame member and the eyes. The spherical object Ill may be made of any suitable material but is preferably made of Celluloid and is of the size of a ping pong ball.

In the normal operation of the device, the nature of the exercise desired will determine the movements to be imparted to the fixation object. Referring to Figure 1, either or both handles may 55 tion as indicated by the arrow will cause the spherical object to roll slowly down the trackway formed in base member I l toward and away from the eyes. The movement of the object closely followed by the eyes will exercise some of the muscles of the eyes thus improving their condition. For the exercise of additional muscles of the eyes, the device is operated in the manner indicated in Figure 2. In this form of the operation, the chin rest 9 is used and the device tilted about the chin rest as an axis, causing the fixation object to move from a position to the right or left of the eyes, with the eyes intently following the object at all times.

If the eyes should apparently be normal, they may be improved and kept in good condition by the exercise of the eye muscles by frequent use of the present device, such exercise bringing all the muscles of the eyes into normal action and keeping them in condition to function properly, and if defects should exist which are subject to correction by eye exercises, such defects may be remedied with the use of the present device.

Thus it will be seen that the construction herein shown and described is well adapted to accomplish the objects of the present invention. It

will be understood, however, that the invention may be embodied otherwise than here shown and that in the embodiment illustrated, certain changes in the construction may be made. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited precisely to the construction herein shown except as may be required by the appended .claims considered with reference to the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. A device for exercising the eyes comprising a frame member, said frame member defining an enclosed trackway, a spherical object on said trackway, said object being movable upon tilting of the trackway, handle means on said frame for tilting the trackway, and a chin rest mounted on the frame member for holding the device spaced from the eyes.

2. A device for exercising the eyes comprising a frame member defining a trackway, stop members at each end or the trackway, an object longitudinally movable on said trackway and limited in its outward movements by said stop members, said object being movable upon tilting of the trackway and means mounted on the frame member for contacting a portion of the body for holding the device spaced .a predetermined distance from the eyes.-

. HUGO BERMANN. 

